‘It’s a profitable mentality this yr. You recognize, get again within the playoffs’
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Forward of Wednesday’s season-opener on the Saddledome, you might surf the net into the wee hours and never discover anyone choosing the Calgary Flames as a Stanley Cup frontrunner.
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No person is predicting a parade for this group.
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Positive by them.
“There was plenty of noise final yr,” reminded Flames ahead Blake Coleman. “This yr, there’s perhaps the occasional person who thinks we have now a superb squad, however we’ve been missed so much. And I believe that’s an incredible function to be in.”
You may perceive why the pundits aren’t positive what to anticipate from the 2023-24 Flames.
That is, in spite of everything, largely the identical solid that did not stay as much as sky-high expectations final winter, falling shy of even incomes a playoff invite. The house lineup for Wednesday’s lid-lifter towards the Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan) will seemingly characteristic solely 4 new faces — rookie sharpshooter Matt Coronato and summer season commerce acquisition Yegor Sharangovich on the second line, both A.J. Greer or Dryden Hunt on the fourth unit and Jordan Oesterle as a depth defenceman.
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“It’s your guys’ job to foretell, to arrange the rankings, all that stuff,” shrugged Flames rearguard Nikita Zadorov. “I don’t assume we’re specializing in that. Each man is specializing in what he’s going to convey on the ice for our staff to win some hockey video games.
“It’s a profitable mentality this yr. You recognize, get again within the playoffs.”
That quest begins Wednesday on the Saddledome, Recreation 1 of 82.
“That is like Christmas Eve for us,” grinned speedy winger Dillon Dube after Tuesday’s apply.
And what’s wrapped up underneath the tree?
Your guess is nearly as good as any.
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Can the Flames rely on extra factors from star winger Jonathan Huberdeau and extra saves from beginning netminder Jacob Markstrom?
Will they be extra stingy with their new defensive-zone technique — a swap to a zone method as a substitute of a man-to-man scheme — and extra productive on the power-play?
Will they discover a approach to put the puck within the opposing web in time beyond regulation?
Will a extra constructive work surroundings — an emphasis for Calgary’s new regime, with Ryan Huska as head coach and Craig Conroy as basic supervisor — equal extra Ws?
“I believe we simply have extra swagger now and extra enjoyable on the rink and we take pleasure in taking part in for one another, not with one another,” mentioned workhorse defenceman Rasmus Andersson, the newest addition to the letter-wearing management crew. “And you recognize, in case you have enjoyable on the rink, you’re going to play nicely and also you’re going to win video games.”
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Final season wasn’t practically as a lot enjoyable as all people was figuring — and that had as a lot to do with the standings because the depressing temper of the since-fired skipper.
The Flames in the end completed ninth within the Western Convention at 38-27-17. They watched all 4 playoff rounds from their couches.
“I actually appreciated this group final yr, too, and we didn’t get the outcomes we wished,” mentioned Markstrom, who will likely be between the pipes for Wednesday’s opener towards the Jets. “I understand how I felt after final season and I do know plenty of guys had comparable emotions, so I believe it’s good that it wasn’t a yard sale with guys leaving. We form of caught with the identical group, so administration reveals us that they imagine in us. It’s time for us to pay them again a little bit bit.”
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“All of us need to show that we’re a superb hockey staff and show that we will play collectively and do nicely collectively,” echoed alternate captain Chris Tanev. “Quite a lot of the time, if you’re anticipated to win and also you lose, a bunch of trades occur and the staff will get blown up, however that didn’t actually occur in any respect. So we have now the chance to make the adjustments that we have to do to show we is usually a higher staff.”
Beginning with Wednesday’s joust with the Jets, there may be actually lots to show.
To themselves.
To the fan base.
To all those that filed their prediction columns with no point out of the Flames.
As defenceman MacKenzie Weegar declared on the outset of coaching camp: “Whether or not you guys imagine it or not, we imagine it in right here, and I believe that’s all that issues.”
“For those who win your first 10 video games, persons are going to begin speaking about Stanley Cup contender once more,” Coleman added. “And for those who lose your first 10, they’ll begin speaking about promoting the franchise. That’s why the video games get performed.
“Finally, the assumption has to come back from inside this room. It doesn’t actually matter what the surface noise is.”
On X: @WesGilbertson
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